Uncoupling mechanism



UNITED STATES PATENT-OFFICE,

wILLrAM KELso, or PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, vAsselrc'ra To THE MesonWAX Le `'lOIEtiIllY COMPANY, OFv A SYLVANIA.

Hrr'rsnnaen, rENNsYLVANIA, .a CORPORATION osrnNN-f UNCOUPLNG MECHANISM.

Application slee october c, i921. semi No. 505,723: i

To all whomy it' may concern.'

' rBe it known that I, VILLIAM llnnso, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Uncoupling Mechanism; and I do hereby de- Clare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which y coupling mechanism of simple and 'compact form consisting of few and durable parts which may be readily assembled and dis assembled. i

The primary feature of the invention, generally stated, consists in actuating` the lock of the carr coupler by means of a rotatable member which is swingingly supported so that its center of rotation may shift lengthwise of the car,

A further feature of the invention consists in causing the coupler lock to be moved to an unlocked position by means of a rotatable member which is supported from the couplei'carrier iron by a member whichis adapted to swing lengthwise of the car to compensate for bodily movement of the rotatable member in its direction of length during an unlocking rotation of the latter. "A still further feature of the invention consists in actuating the lock of the coupler through vthe medium of a rotatable member which is swingingly supported rearwardly of the lock by means adapted to move both lengthwise and transversely of the car.

There are other features of invention residing in particular combinations and details of construction all as will hereinafter appear. A In the drawings illustratingthe invention, the scope whereof-is pointed out in the claims,' v f f Figure l is a view, partly in side elQVtvon and partly. in vertical section, ofl an luncoupling mechanism embodying the vinvention, the car coupler illustrated beingof the wellv known Master Car Builders D-type'.`

Figure 2 isa detail sectional'view on the line 2 2, Fig. l, portions'of the-uncoupling levers which extend toward/the` sidesv of the car and of the'l coupler carrier iron" and coupler stembeing broken 'away'.

i Figure 3 is a detail 'sectional view on theI line 3&3, Fig. l.

Should it be desired to permit the coupler,

1 to have a considerable swinging` movement laterally of the car the rear endl of the coupler shankmaybe formed with pivot y pin opening 2 which is' adapted'to receive a tail pin (notshown) whereby the coupler may be pivotally` connected tov thedraft rigging' .in a well known manner. .i ,i

The lock 3 of the coupler is inovably connected at its lower end to a link 4 which pro-v jects downwardly through the head of the coupler andI which is pivotally connected at its lower end to a swinging member or lift lever 5 which is itself'pivoted to the under side of thecouplerjhead upon the knuckle side thereof. They link 4 and pivoted lift lever 5 illustrated .in the. drawings may kbe and preferably are constructed 'and"ar=` ranged in accordance with the standard practice of the bottom lock lift devices of the D-type coupler. i

Movablyy connected "to, 'the pivoted member 5 so as to be capable of actuating the latter to cause'the lock 3 to: performan unlockingmovement.y such as maybe necessary eitherto unlockthe knuckle or to actuate the rknuckle opening` device of the coupler,l is :a rotatable member 6 which extends" rearwardly of saidlock andxils not only capable of rotating vertically but also, during..its rotation,'is capable of bodily movement lengthwise 'of the car. To permit the mem# ber 6 to move in thismanner it is swingingly supported at Vits center of rotation by means ofa link device' 7 which is adapted to swing lengthwise of the car. By this means, as is shown'by the *dot and dash arc 8, the member 5 pivoted to the "coupler headand Athe vertically rotatable member 6 may co# by the dot and dash arc 9, the center of rotation of the member 6 were fixed. As a means for movably connecting the vertically rotatable memberl 6 to the pivoted member 5 carried by the coupler, said member 6 may be provided at its forward end with a hook 10 which cooperates with the eye 11 at the rear end of the member 5, the members 5 and6` thus being interlockingly connected.

At its rear end the member 6 is preferably provided with oppositely disposed laterally extending trunnions or pivots 12 which are respectively received by hooks 13 forming segmental bearings for said trunnions. Beneath the trunnions the member 6 is preferably provided with laterally -opening recesses'la which are respectively adapted to receive theupwardly extending endsfl of rotatable uncoupling rodsy or levers 16. These levers extend toward the sides of the car and preferably are of the well lknown form illustrated in the l. H. Milliken Patent No.1,181,116, dated May 23, 1916,

The swinging link 7 may be conveniently connected to the coupler carrier iron 17 through the intervention of. a `hook and eye connection, the Lipper end of said link being provided .with a hook 18 which cooperates with an eye 19 that is formed in a coupler saddle 2O slidably mounted on the carrier iron and adapted to be shifted laterally of the car by the stem of thecoupler when the latter executes an extendedswinging movement.A The hook and eye connection between the carrier ironand the link 7 enables the latter readily to swing both lengthwise and transversely of the car and to turn in response'to the lateral angular movement of the rotatable member 6. vlVhere the coupler is intended to have a very wide range of lateral swinging movement it may be advantageous to provide for the necessary lateral movement of the link 7. by movably connectingthe latterto the coupler saddle 20, as shown, rather than to support said link directly from the carrier iron.

To assemble the mechanism the swinging link device 7 is turned laterally until it is at right angles toits normal position when its hook 18 may be hooked through the laterally elongated. eye 19 of the coupler saddle 20. The link 7 when dropped to ordinary position interlocks with the member. 2O so that these parts cannot become accidentally dirconnected. The hook 10 at the forward end `of the rotatable member 6 is then hooked through the eye 11 of the pivoted member 5 carried by the coupler, after which the truunions 12 are seated in the bearing hooks 123 at the lowerend of the swinging support. 7. The inner ends 15 of the uneoupling levers 1,6 are thereafter'inserted in the respective openings 14 ofthe member 6 and their outer ends may be movably supported in brackets at -thesidesof the carin the usual way. .As

thus assembled the several parts are interlocked in a manner preventing their accidental disassociation.

Either of the uncoupling levers 16 may be rotated to aetuate the member 6 to effect an unlocking movement of the coupler lock 3, the flaring character of the openings 14 in the member 6 into which the uncoupling the forward end of the rotatable member 6 to conform to the path of movement of the eye 11 at the rear end of the pivoted member 5, thus enabling the unlocking andgknuckle j throwing operations of the coupler to be accomplished with a minimum expenditure of effort upon the part of the trainman.

claim 1. In an uncoupling mechanism, the com-` bination with a car coupler, its lock and carrier iron, of means for moving saidlock to unlocked position, said means involving a rotatable member operatively connected to said lock and extending rearwardly therefrom,l an uncoupling lever, and means for swingingly` supporting the rear end of said rotatable member from said carrier iron, said supporting means being adaptedk to swing lengthwise of the car in response to lengthwise 'bodily' movement of said rotatable member during its unlocking rotation, and said rotatablemember being interposed between said uncoupling lever and said supporting means. V

2. 1n an uncoupling mechanism,the combination with a kcar coupler and its lock, of means for moving said lock to unlocked position, said means involving a rotatable member operatively connected'to said lock and extending rearwardly therefrom, an uncoupling lever, and means adapted to swing lengthwise of the carr forl supporting the rear end of said rotatable member, said rotatable member during its rotation 'being adapted 'to force said supporting means to swing in compensation for bodily movement of said rotatable member in its direction of length, and said rotatable member being interposedbetween said uncoupling lever and said supporting means. y

3. In an uncoupling mechanism, the combination with a car coupler and its lock, af means for moving saidvlock to unlocked position, said means involving a rotatable member operatively 'connected to said lock and extending rearwardly therefrom, an uncoupling lever, and a link device for'supporting the Crear end. of said rotatable meminimsoe ber, said link` device bei-iig adapted by swinging lengthwise of lthel cai' to compensatexoibodily movement of said rotatable member in its direction oin length duringv an iiii'loclting rotation 'of said member. and said rotatable member being interposed' between said operatively connectedqto 'said lock and tending rearwardly therefrom, an uneoiipling` rod eXten'dingIt-oward tlie side of 'the caraiid adapted to canse saidiota-table yinemlber to vperform an unlocking rotatiom' and 'swinging-means directly supporting sa-id 'rotatable member at itsy rear endg said'last named means being adapted to swing lengthwiseof the'car vin responsel tri-bodily movenient of said rotatable member in its `direction of length during an unlocking rotation of said member. f

5. In an uncoiipling. mechanism, the-'coinbination with a car couplei'larid 'its lock, of means for lmovingisaid' lool; to unlocked position', 'said ymeans'iiivolvingva "rotatable member operatively connectedgto said' locl and eitending rearwardly tb.ere'from,-an unycoupling (lever, "andV means 'for "swinginglyY 'supporting the rear ends'oif` said `rotatable lmember7 said supporting means being adaptve'd'to" swing lengtliwise`of the car to permit 'Corresponding rlengthwise bodily movement of said rotatable member, and said rotatable member being interposed between said fun*- coupling lever and' said'supporting moans.

In an uncoiipl'ing.mechanism, the coin- 'bination with acar coupler and its'lockvoi Vmeans for moving said loclrto unlocked pof sition, said 'means involving a rotatable member operatively. connected :to ,sz-iidylocl:l and extending*rearwardly therefrom'g--an iin- .'coupling lever, and" swinging means 'forsiipporting said rotatable mem-ber'rearwardly' of said lock, said-swinging means being adapted to swing lengthwise'otth'e'fcarand also 'to turn in response to lateral swinging movementA of said rotatable member. and

said rotatable memberbeinginterposed Ibe'- tw'een vsaid unc'oupling lever and saidswinging means. n r 7. In an uncouplingA mechanism. the coin- `binatioii with a carcoiipler and i'tsloflr, 'of `means for moi'iiiigsaid lockte unlocked positioii,v` said means involving a Arotatable vrii'ember operativelylconnected.to said lock and extending'rearwardly therefrom an uncoupling lever, andswinging means -for-supporting the rear end'uofl said"memberfsoas to permit-said member to swing in.' the `direction of length of the car, said rotatable member Vbeing interposed between said iincoupling, lever and said swinging means.

8; n an uncoupling mechanism, the. com` bina'tion'witha car coupler and its lock, of

means for moving said lock to unlocked position, said means involving a .vertically rotatable member, swinging. means for operatively connecting "said member to said lofrl,

an' uncoupliiig lever, and swinging means for supporting said `member rearwardly of said locln said last named means being `adapted to swingl lengthwise of the'v cai responsively to the swinging movementiof. the

said swingingimeans by which saidrotatable member is .operatively connected to vsaid lock, and said rotatable memberbeing k i, interposed. between said iincoiiplinglever and said swinging means-.fIv

9. In an uneoupling'mechanism,the combination with 'a ear coupler and its lock, of

means i'ornmoving saidv lock to unlocked po-` sition, said means involving a rotatable t device'wliich isA bodily movable lengthwiseyof lthe "car, meansf `for 'operatively` connecting l saidrdevice. to said lock, van iineouplinglever, and swinging means -supporting said device rearwardly of [sai'dflocla:j said swinging meansl beinguadapted toj swing length-- wise of. the can -resp'oiisively to'` v lengthwise f bodilymoveinent' of said device duri-ng `an unlocking rotation thereof,- and'fsaid rotatable device being interposed.betweensaid uncoupling lever and said swinging means.`

l0.- ln an 'uncoiipling mechanism, thelcom- '.bin'ation witha cari-coupler andwitslock, of

`mea'ns`for moving said-'lock vto unlockedpoy ;si.tion,z-said means @involving a rotatable.) device, fa plurality of swinging means 'for .slipporting said rotatable device; and an {uncoupl-ing gleve'r supported by 'onegof Asaid swinging meansL tb rough the interiiiediacy of said rotatable device,' said plurali 'lei'igthwise off-the car; and ,constituting the sole supportfor said rotatable device.`

1l. Inf an iincoupling mechanism, the combinationwith afcai" coupler and its lock, of

yffoi' v v swinging-iimeans being adapted- .to-swingv ymeansft'or moving said lockte iinlockedposition,l said means 'involving rotatable member operatively connected to saidqlock, -an uncoupl-ing lever,y andl means f affording a and to i turn' f inresponse ltoE angular movement `of said rotatable member `tri/insversely ot the car.

'1 112;"1n an uncoupling mecliani-sm5'the comv bination with 1 ahcar coupler .and fits lock; :o

vmeanstor'moving ksaid lock-:to unlocked'povsupportffo'r said rotatable memberijrearwardly off said lock,y said frot'atablemember "being :interposed S'between "saidy -iincoiipling lever and saidv supporting .r'aean's7 andI said i supporting .means beingv adapted to swing Sbotli ,lengthwise and transversely oit theycar sition, said meansl'involviiig: rota-table' s member operatively connectedto said lock,

an uncoupling `lever supportedat one end by said rotatable member, swinging means tor supporting said rotatable f memberA rearwardly ot said lock,and means interlockingly connected to said swinging means for supporting the latter. Y

13. lIn an uncoupling mechanism, the combination with a car coupler, its lock, a carrier iron and a member sli'dably'mounted on said carrier iron. and adapted to be shift-ed thereon by 'swinging movement ots-aid coumember to perform an unlocking rotation,

and swinging means for permitting the center of rotation ot said rotatable memberv to 'shift ylengthwisev of the car, said' swinging means engaging and forming a support for said rotatable member, and said rotatable 'member forming a support orsaid" means for causing an unlocking rotation thereof. 15. vIn an uncoupling mechanism, the combination with a car coup-ler and` its lock, of means for moving said lock to unlocked `position,v said means involving a swinging member pivotally connected to said coupler, a link operatively connecting said swinging member and said lock, a vertically .rotatable member movably connected to-said swinging member, meansfor actuating said rotatable member, and means for supporting said ver-V tically rotatable member rearwardly of said lock, said last named means being pivotally connected to said rotatable member and being adapted to permit the center'ofrotation ot said rotatable member to shift lengthwise ofthecar during a lock actuating operation thereof. fp

. 16. In an uncoupling mechanism, the combination with `a car coupler and its lock, of

meansfor movingl said lock to unlocked position, said means involving a swinging member lpivotally connected to said coupler, a link movably connected to said swinging member andsaid-,locln a vertically rotatable member provided with oppositely disposed trunnions, a support for said rotatable member adapted to swing lengthwise of the car, said support having bearings for receiving said trunnions, and a rotatable uncoupling lever which engagesand is adapted to actuatesaid rotatable member.

17. In an uncoupling mechanism, the combination with a car coupler and its lock, of means for moving said lock to unlocked p0- sition, said means involving a member piv# otally connected to said coupler, a link interposed between said member and said lock, a rotatable member operatively connected to said lock, means for actuating said rotatable member, and swinging means movable lengthwise of the car and pivotally engaging said rotatable .member at the center of rotation of the latter for supporting said rotatable member rearwardly of said lock. y

18. In an uncoupling mechanism, the lcombination with a caricoupler and itsloclelof means for moving said lock to 'unlocked position, said means involving a swinging member pivotally connected tofsaid coupler,

a link operatively connecting said swinging member and. said lock, a vertically rotatable member movably connected to said swinging member, means for actuating vsaid rotatable member, and means adaptedto swing lengthwise of the car for pivotally support ing said rotatable member at its center of rotation. A i

19. In anuncoupling mechanism, the combinationy with a car coupler and its lock, of

means for moving saidy lock to unlocked position, said means involving 'a swinging member pivotally connected to said coupler, a link movably connecting said swinging member and said lock, a` rotatable member i operatively connected to said lock, means for actuatingy said` rotatable member, and means adapted to move both lengthwise and transversely ofthe car for pivotally supporting said rotatable member at its center of rotation.

20. In an uncoupling mechanism,.the combination with a car coupler and its lock, of means for'moving said lock to unlocked position, said means involving av swinging member pivotally connected to said coupler, a link operatively connecting said swinging member and said lock, a vertically rotatable member movably connected to said swinging member and provided with oppositely cli/se` posed trunnions, an uncoupling lever adapted to swing said rotatable member upon its trunnions, and swinging meansfor supporting said rotatable member rearwardly lof I said lock, said last named means'being provided with a plurality of segmental bearings adapted to receive said trunnions. l

21. In an uncoupling mechanism, the combination with a car coupler, itsV lock and car rier iron, of means for moving said lock to unlocked position, saidv means .involvinga vertically rotatable member operatively connected'to said lock, means for actuating said j rotatable member, and swinging means for supporting said rotatable member, saidv swinging means being movably connected to said carrier iron through a hook and eye connection, said eye being elongated trans` versel of the car.

22. n an uncoupling mechanism, the combination with a car coupler, its lock, a oarrier iron and a member slidably mounted on said carrier iron and adapted to be shifted transversely of the car by'said coupler, of means for moving said look to unlocked po sition, said means involving a swinging member pivotally connected to said coupler,

' latter.

a link operatively connecting "said swinging member and said lock, a vertically rotatable member movably connected to said swing- -ing member, an unoonplingleverengaging and adapted to actuate said vertically rotatable member, and swinging means movably connected to said slidable member and to` said `rotatable member for supporting the v 

